Game apparatus



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GAME APPARATUS Original File d May 2.3, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 l' lll/fzl" lll 11| m n INVENTOR @www ATTQREYS Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 23,119, May 23, 1935. 7, 1939, Serial No. 266,676

This' application April 9 claims. (ci. 273-89) My present invention relates to the art of mechanical games and more particularly to a game apparatus.

This application is a substitute for lthe abandoned application, Serial No. 23,119, filed May It is well known that a large number of game boards have been created based upon various lnational games and sports. The majority of such games, howevenfall far short of simulating the actual conditions of play. Too often they are, in effect, just another pin and ball game in which luck plays a too important part. In my present game I have endeavored to simulate as far as possible every condition of play and to, in a large degree, make the winning of a high score a matter of skill, rather than luck. lVLy basic apparatus lends itself to the majority ofl games played as national games in various countries and to many outdoor sports. For convenience of explanation I have indicated my apparatus as applied to the game ofv baseball. In my game which is most conveniently played on an incline deck, I provide a batting mechanism whichis manually operated through suitable linkage. As the ball is pitched, by mechanical means, the operator can place this ball, after he becomes experienced, with a fair degree of accuracy, inthe selected part of the deck. Here it engages a number of rubber bumpers or retarding means, simulating basemen and elders. These are so arranged that, by skillful placing of the ball, one or more bases may be made by the runner and, under certain conditions, even a home run is possible. Now, I am well aware that even these conditions have been met to a degree in the past. With my present arrangement, however, the ball is always visible just as in a ball game and the ball as it oscillates between various bumpers, holds the players interest just as a spectators interest is held on a real ball eld.

The principal object of my present game, therefore, is to provide a playing board in which skill must be developed and where the general characteristics of the game of baseball can be faithfully simulated.

A further object of my invention is to provide ball retarding means which will simulate players in the eld but which are so arranged that it is not certain just what will be the nal disposition of the ball until it is actually on its way to be returned to the pitcher or catcher.

. A further object of my present invention isv to provide a plurality of blinking lights which will .i indicate runners oi base and which are provided with switching means mechanically operated which will indicate when those runners are put out.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent Vfrom the following description taken in connectionV with the wherein Figure l .is a top plan View of a game board. made after the teachings of my invention.

accompanying drawings,

Figure `2 is a longitudinal sectional view, in`

elevation, -of my game board.

Figure 3 is a schematic wiring diagram used in my game board, or right hand end of the mechanism shown" in Figure 2 but viewed from the opposite side.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate in vertical sectional view the pitching, batting and catching mechanism. Y

Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are crosssectional views taken along similarly designated sectional lines of Figure 1'7.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view showing in greater detail the element making up the scoring devices. j

Figures 15, 16, 19, 20, 21 and 22 are cross-sectional views, i-n fragmentary form, taken along similarly designated sectional lines of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken near the upper end of my game device and showing in considerable detail the light switching means.

i Figure 18 is a fragmentary, sectional View in plan taken along the line l8--l8 of Figure 20, certain parts being omitted for sake of clarity.

In carrying out my invention I employ a bat that is adapted to oscillate in a horizontal plane, and the bat is swung at the delivered ball by operating means under control of the operator or player, who depresses an exterior lever for actuating the operating mechanism. Y

.The bat is located between a pitching device and a catching and returning device, in usual position, and. these devices include ejectors for the ball, which ejectors are operated from an electric motor conveniently located, and a coin operated mechanism is provided for controlling the operation of the motor. While the motor is in operation power is continuously transmitted to the pitching device and the catching and returning device and these devices are in constantly operative position or condition during a prede-` termined period of time, or during a period of time in which a specic number of swings may be applied to the bat. Thus, after the coin has been deposited, the bat may be successively swung, by the player or operator, or by two players alternately, up to twelveV times, after which the power operating mechanism is disconnected from the pitching device and the catcher and ball-returning device.

The pitching device delivers the ball to the catcher andv returning device, and the latter returns the ball to the pitcher if the bat fails vtoV hit the ball. If the swinging bat hits the ball either directly to the pitcher, or indirectly to the pitcher by way of the catcher. A home run station is also provided in the outfield to receive a hit ball, and means are provided for ejecting the ball from this station so that it may be returned to the pitcher.

An intermittent, or step by step, mechanism is employed, receiving power from the operating shaft that is driven by the motor, for illuminating runner lights that indicate the positions of the runners as they pass around the bases, and means are also provided for illuminating the first, second and third bases while the game is being played. I'hese illuminating means are rendered operative at the start of the game, and rendered inoperative at the end of the game. Illuminated means are also employed for indicating on a score board the hits and runs made by the players.

Referring especially to Figure 2 it will be seen that the operating parts of the game are enclosed within a box having a longitudinally extending deck in its upper portion which is indicated as I6, and the playing eld over this deck is enclosed by a transparent or glass plate I1. The deck may be of any suitable material, and it is preferably supported with the outfield higher than the ineld and the catchers station, so that the ball 24 may roll by gravity to the pitchers box or station, or, in the event the ball rolls by gravity to the home plate, the ball is returned by the catching and returning mechanism to the pitchers box.

The ball-catching and returning mechanism is indicated as a whole in Figure 1 by the numeral I8; the bat is indicated as 28; and the pitchers box is indicated by the numeral 22. The catchers mechanism and the pitchers mechanism each includes means for ejecting and propelling the ball from one mechanism to the other mechanism, and these ejecting devices are somewhat similar in construction and operation to like devices in my patent numbered 1,885,802. Each of these devices includes a vertically moving ejector or reciprocating piston 23, as in Figure 5, located below the home plate and the pitchers box, and these ejectors are reciprocating constantly while the game is being played.

In the catching and returning mechanism, the

ball 24 is lifted or ejected by the piston 23 up against a yieldingly supported roller 25, and forced between this roller and the stationary lip 28, and this ejecting action returns the ball to the pitchers mechanism. In the pitching mechanism the ball is lifted by the ejector or piston 23 and forcibly ejected between a roller 21 having a yielding journalsupport, and a complementary freely rotating roller 28. By the co-action of these two rollers 21 and 28, a movement is imparted to the ball as it rolls toward the bat, which renders indefinite the striking of the ball by the swinging bat, thus simulating the swinging of a bat at a curved ball in a ball game.

Bat 28 is formed by bending the upper end of a metal rod or shaft I9, which is journaled in upright position beneath the deck, so that the bat may swing horizontally over and close to the upper face of the deck, and the bat is normally held in position of Figure 1 by a spring 30 coiled about the shaft I9 with one end i'lxed to the shaft and its other end anchored to a stationary bracket beneath the deck. The shaft I9 of the bat is provided with a crank portion 3| just below the spring 38, and this cam or crank portion is engaged by a link or loop 32 rigid with a crank arm 32 that is fixed on and movable with a longitudinally extending shaft 33 which is supported to slide or reciprocate longitudinally in brackets 33.

. The bat is swung by shifting this shaft 33, and

the latter is shifted by depressing the exterior, free end of a bell crank lever 34 that is pivotally supported at 36 within the box. The bell crank lever is pivotally connected at 35 with a link 31 extending parallel with the shaft 33, and this link is pivotally connected with a slide yoke 38 mounted on the shaft 33 between a xed collar 39 on the shaft and the hub of the arm 32'. The linkage as described is arranged so that as'the exterior, free end of the operating lever 34 is depressed by hand, the yoke 38 pushing against collar 39 slides the shaft 33 to the right in Figure against the tension of a spring 4I, and the crank shaft I9 is turned, swinging the bat against tension of spring 38 for the purpose of meeting the ball. The spring 4I is designed to absorb excessive shocks imparted to the operating lever 34, and thereby prevent excessive wear and tear on the operating parts.

It will be understood of course that the player is free to operate the lever 34 and swing the bat at the ball as the latter is delivered to the home plate, and he may choose the ball at which he swings, but he is of course limited by the rules of the game to the number of swings of the bat.

In order to indicate the position and advancement of runners on the bases, and to provide a mechanism that will indicate when men are put out and runs' are made, I provide a rotary timing and selecting mechanism, or unit. This unit is mounted upon an intermittently revolvab'le shaft 40 journaled in suitable bearings. The unit consists essentially of a circular commutator plate 42, a cam plate 44 mounted thereon and having at its periphery four spaced cams, as 45, the selector plate 46, and the release rotor cam unit 48, as indicated in Figure 17.

The power for operating the power-driven devices is provided from an electric motor 58 located within the enclosing box or cabinet, and the motor, through suitable reducing means, drives the longitudinally extending power shaft 5I at a constant speed, continuously, while the game is being played; and from this shaft, through suitable transmitting mechanism, the various parts of the mechanisms are operated.

The catcher and returning device I8 is driven by crank 52 xed to the end of shaft 5I in Figure 4, and this crank arm is connected by link |08 to the ejector 23.

The pitching mechanism is operated from the shaft 5I by a suitable crank through a connecting member 53, and the crank is pivoted to the gear 54 which is driven at reduced speed from a gear 55 on the shaft 5I, a link |08 also being used to connect the crank with the ejector.

For operating the selecting and controlling unit I employ the intermittently operated shaft 40, which is driven in a step by step movement through means best illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, where an eccentric 58 on shaft 5I, oscillates by a cam action the bar 51 which is mounted upon a rock shaft 58, and this bar 51 is provided at its upper end with a pawl 59 that co-acts with a ratchet wheel 8l on the shaft 40.

Fixedly secured to the opposite end of shaft 58 is a trip lever 60 shown in Figures 12 and 13 in its released position. As eccentric 56 on shaft ,5I is revolved, lever 51 on the rock shaft 58 operating against suitable return springs, drives ratchet 6| in Figure '1 in a step by step manner.

In Figure 12 it will be seen that normally, when the gaine is not operative, or not being played, the latch E2 engages the lower fend 63 of a depending lever 60 mounted on theshaft 58, and holds it in such a manner as to lift arm 51 out of operative contact with eccentric 56. 'Ihis action is released, however, as soon as the pitching mechanism delivers the ball. This release is effectedthrough a co-ntrol rod 84 in Figure 5, operating through the rocker shaft assembly 65 to the latch mechanism 66, as in Figure 13. Thus it follows that when the first ball Y. is pitched the game is in play ready to indicate the sequence of plays which follow.

Starting game The sequence of operation of my machine is substantially as follows: The play is started by unlocking the mechanism through the co-nventional coin-release mechanism 68 which causes shaft 1D, see Figure 14, to operate on arm 1| by means of links 12 and 13 which pull shafts 14 and 15 in a downward direction causing cams 1S to force the stop and driving pawls 11 and 18, see Figure 16, off the face of ratchet 19 thereby allowing ratchet 19 to swing back by means of spring to a zero position. This ratchet 19 is connected with a release arm 8| for the batting and the timing elements which are fixed on a common shaft 14. Shaft 14, carrying arm 83, compresses spring 84 thereby revolving shaft 85, through the means of rod 88, and arm 81, assisted by spring 88 on shaft 85. This causes mercury switch 82 carried by shaft 85, to revolve and close the power circuit. Shaft 1l) also carries arm 89 which causes shaft 90 to be forced backwards through the means of rod 9| and arm 92. Shaft 88 carries a trip-arm 93, Figure 22, with it, thereby causing trip-arm 93 to leave the driving surface of the eccentric 94 which is rotated by shaft 95. When the coin-release mechanism 68 is allowed to return t0 its neutral position the trip-arm 93 will be forced back on the low side of the eccentric 94 by means of spring 9B which will cause the trip-arm 93 to release cam 98 thereby creating a time lag which will hold the pawls 11 and 18 in an outward position so that the shaft |00 and tube |82 will have time to rotate into their zero position by means of springs 80 and |84 and |08.

Batting ball The motor 58 will be running at this point as a result of switch 82 closing the circuit and driving shaft 5| through the means of the reduction gears. Shaft 5I will be reciprocating plungers 23 by the means of cranks and connecting links |88. Itv will be seen that the ball will have returned either to the pitcher or catcher receptacle, by gravity, and that these plunge-rs 23 will carry the ball upward against the roller 25 carried by the rocking arm ||2 and through the pressure exerted against the springs I|4 and ||6 will cause the ball to be propelled across the deck. If the ball was in the catchers receptacle it will be passed to the pitcher and if it was in the pitchers receptacle the ball will be passed to the catcher. During the cycle of throwing the ball from the pitcher to the catcher it is neces'- sary for the player or operator to depress or force the hand lever 34% downwards to its fullest extent, thereby causing the bat 2t to rotate which, if the operator is sufficiently skillful, will drive the ball out on the deck. Atthe same time hand lever 34 ,forces rod ,31 in a rearward direction, also carrying yoke 38, which, in turn, forces shaft 33 through the means of collar 39, in a rearward direction, thereby causing cam |22 off the end of pin |24 causing shaft 33l to rotate some 60 degrees completing the batting stroke.

` Operation of runner lights In completing its rotation shaft 33 causes arm |26 to press downward locking pawl 82 thereby taking it out of alignment with arm 51 at the same time opening switch |28 which will allow spring |38 topull arm 51 against eccentric 56 thereby actuating pawl 59, causing the ratchet wheel 6| to rotate continuously, in a step by step manner, as long as hand lever 34 is held in a downward position. But if hand lever is released into an upward positionv then pin |24 will pick up cam |22 and force it int'o its neutral position which will allow locking pawl 82 to raise and close switch |28 at the same time aligning itself with arm 60 and stop the functioning of the pawl thereby bringing ratchet wheel 8| to stop at a position which will bring the brushes |34 in contact with the segment |86 on the commutator which will cause a light number |38 to light at position representing 'a base on the deck. The movement of `the ratchet wheel 6|, which is pinned to shaft 48, will cause these brushes |34 to traverse segment |48 by means of angevlt and arms |42 which are carried by shaft 48. If brushes |34 are completing a circuit by making contact with one of the large segments as shown in Figure 8, a circuit is completed through a light located between the adjoining bases, and this light will be flashing on and off by action of the flasher |44. During this period switch |28, which is in shunt with rotating asher |44, will be opened, thereby causing the electric current to pass through the rotating flasher which will make and break the circuit and carry the current through the segment |40 and connecting -ring |46 by means of the brushes |34 to the lights between bases. During this movement of the ratchet wheel 6|, if the ball on the deck should operate rocker arms H2, it will cause locking pawl |48 to contact ratchet |58 thereby locking pin wheel l 52 which is supported by shaft 48 and is an idler on shaft 48 but has been revolved by one of the arms |42. This locking action will cause arm |42 to come to its neutral position thereby breaking the electric circuit by means of brushes |34 causing4 light |38 to go out representing an out. These arms can only be depressed into a locking position when they come into alignment with cam |58 which is carried by shaft |51 which, in turn, is operated by cam 45 by means of roller follower 205 which is secured to shaft |51 and spring |58. It is readily seen by this method that if ratchet -wheel 6| is stationary that the arms |42 will not be released from their locked posi-- tion thereby keeping the brushes on the commutator and the light burning, indicating a runner at base.v This will be a steadily glowing light due to the fact that the switch |28 will be closed and will cut the flashing commutator |44 out of the circuit andthe runner will be considered safe, Shaft |51 also carries a cam |80 which has a `slot in its upper surface |82 which is engaged by pawl |84, the purpose being to stop the shaft |51 from coming forward to its full extent and putting arm |42 into a locked position except when a ball causes rocker arm H2 to lift pawl |64 by means of link |66, shaft |68 and rod 64.

The reason for this` being that if -an operator should decide to advance his man more than one base that he would not be able to put up more men unless the ball returned either to the catcher or pitcher receptacle. At the same time thisr arrangement registers the swings of the bat only when the ball has been thrown from the pitcher to the catcher receptacle and struck at by the bat. If an arm H52 should make one complete revolution in its locked position it then will be tripped by cam H2 which is carried by shaft |14 which also is attached to arm H5 which will cause pawl 'E8 to rotate ratchet wheel one tooth by means of link lill and bell crank H thereby registering one run.

Scoring means Cam |32 is Xed by a set screw to shaft IDB which indicates the running score by means of drum it and ratchet 'i9 and can be adjusted to contact lever 86 at a desired number of runs thereby forcing lever lt outwards and releasing catch lSl' thus causing spring |88 to contract and pull cam 499 against crank pin ISI which in turn causes cam I9@ to reciprocate, by means of the spring |38, pulling it one way and the crank pin S9! forcing it the other. Cam lS carries a support for set screw l2 when set screw E92 reaches pawl arm 5l it holds it against the contraction of spring i3@ so that arm 5l is not actuated by eccentric 56 thus the pawl 59 can not come back far enough to pick up a tooth in ratchet wheel El. This condition ceases when pin lai pushes set screw l92 out of range. Supported on cam i is a tooth 94 which is held by pawl E96 and only when shaft l'l is in its furtherest extended position pawl is'not engaged with tooth lSl, thus allowing only the missing of a beat of pawl 59 directly after each hit.

Pawl |91' is forced away from flange 56 by means of eccentric 93 which is operated by shaft 5l and pulled toward flange by means of spring l99. The purpose of this pawl is to stop momentum o ange 46 when bases are reached.

Fork Zilli is pinned to shaft l5? and is an idler on shaft 33, the sole purpose being to stop shaft E51 from rotating and allowing shaft 33 to reciprocate.

Pawl 20! is connected to shaft. vHi8 by means of rod 293. Cam 2&3 is pinned to shaft 85 which carries mercury switch 82, the reason being that when arm 8l is compressed back either by the fielding device or hit mechanism, the mercury switch can not be tripped until a ball has operated the rocker arm H2 which in turn is connected to shaft 63 and finishes the game.

The game procedure In playing my game the operator grasps hand hold Sli, assuming the game to be released into playing condition by the manual operation of the coin mechanism 58, and he waits until the pitcher mechanism discharges ball 24. When the ball gets into the position deemed suitable the operator presses down on handle 34, this through the mechanism described, swings bat 2G in a counter-clockwise direction just as would a righthanded batter. If the timing of the strike is proper, as in baseball, the ball will be driven out into the playing eld. The direction, however, which the ball takes will be a function of the exact timing of the bat as the ball tends to rebound in the same manner a baseball does. Therefore, if the batter strikes the ball a little early the ball will be drivenlout in the direction 'of the rs't baseman. IfV he is late with his strike it will be driven out in the direction of the third baseman. Now, usually if the ball is driven directly into the pitchers mechanism, it is stopped and the man will invariably be put out. If the ball, however, hits either oi the basemen bumpers 204, or 295, or the elder bumpers as Z, 207, ZDB, 210, 2l I, or 2I2, the ball will be directed backwardly where, by gravity, it will come to rest in either the pitcher or catcher mechanism. The ideal batting stroke is to place the ball between the basernen bumpers and the elder retarding means; This allows the ball to come up and engage the curved end corner members 2M, or 2l5 where it may be directed into the home run device BIG, or may follow down through between bumpers 296, and lll. Now, these bumpers are preferably made of resilient material such as rubber, adequately supported as against damage, and there is a marked tendency for the ball, which is normally a ball bearing, to oscillate between the two and thus be retarded, then it may slip through between the adjacent ends of the retarding devices and either go clear on through to the pitcher device or oscillate between the next set of bumpers as 269, and 2HE; from there it may go directly into the pitcher mechanism or rebound between devices 2H and BIZ.

The scoring device, of which member l is the principal unit, travels at a substantially uniform speed and the amount of time it takes to return the ball to the pitcher determines how far the runner can run around the bases just as is true in the game of baseball. Now, it should be the intention of the operator to keep his men running as long as the ball is not in the pitchers box. This he can do by keeping handle 3G, depressed. However, if he should hold the handle down too long the ball may be returned unexpectedly and his runner, if off base, put out. This situation in itself is very similar to the way the game of baseball is played. It is this matter of judgment and skill in operating the machine that makes this game one of skill rather than a game oi chance.

The home run device 2li; is provided with a plunger 2 Il which is under direct control of han# dle 34 by means of rod 2 i3 which is shown broken away in Figure 2. Therefore it is the operators intent to keep the plunger ZE'i retracted in its downward position so that the ball can come to rest in the opening normally filled by the plunger.' It naturally follows that as long as the handle 34 is held down and the ball is held in the home run device the rotary indicating mechanism will continue to function and all runners on base will be brought home. As soon as the last runner is home the home run device can be released as there is no further purpose in keeping the ball out of play.

The visible scoring means is actuated by nut 22) which is secured on shaft i5?. Shaft l5? is free to slide through an opening .in bell crank 22! which is pivoted on the xed pivot 222. When the pitcher or catcher mechanism H2 is tripped shaft IGS is actuated through rod 5ft which in turn actuates cam 6%-, through rod 66, thus lifting lug i611 out of slot 62 formed in member itil. This permits shaft 557 to slide toward the lower end of the machine under urgence of spring i515. This in turn causes nut 22E to strike bell crank 22| and thus actuate rod 22e. This movement operates mechanism of the type shown in Figure 2l turning hollow shaft 225 and indicating a hit on drum 225. Shaft lil is actuated by a similar mechanism scoring the runs on drum Itri. The run scorer has an additional timing element mercury switch 82. This serves to stop the gamel i when a given period of time has elapsed. A similar mechanism operates switch 82 when a predetermined number of hits has been secured.

This game is subject to considerable variation. I have found it an acceptable arrangement, however, to allot to the operator a certain definite number of swings of the bat. This may be, for instance, i2 and then it is up to the operator to see how many swings of the bat can be `converted ing device, a rreceiving and returning device,`

into hits and runs. If the swinging bat misses the ball the batter is considered as being out. When the batter misses the ball itis caught by the catching mechanism and then returned to the pitcher, the control mechanism for the lights is tripped, and the lights are extinguished. It is only this one aspect of the game which is different from baseball. But it has been found that to have a game that would be entertaining to the public it must be simplified and this represents practically the only variation from the standard game of baseball.`

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely lustrative and that such changes inthe invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a baseball game apparatus the combination with an inclined playing deck having a pitching device, a receiving and returning device. power operated mechanism for ejecting a ball from said devices, and a manually operated swinging-bat, all located at the lower portion of the deck, of a plurality of ball retarding devices located on thedeck and spaced at intervals in the path of movement of a ball projected from the' bat.

2. In a baseball game apparatus, the combination with an inclined playing deck having a pitching device, a receiving and returning device, power' operated mechanism for ejecting a ball from each of said devices, and a manually operated-swinging-bat, of means for controlling the operation of the power operated mechanism, and two series of bumpers located on the deck with the bumpers of each series spaced at successive intervals from the swinging-bat.

3. In a baseball game apparatus, the combination with an inclined playing deck havinga pitchpower operated mechanism for ejecting a ball from each of said devices, means for controlling the operation of said power operated mechanism, and a manuallyv operated swinging-bat, of a plurality of resilient bumpers located on the deck and spaced from the swinging-bat, and some of said bumpers being in two series with the bumpers of each series spaced at successive' intervals from the swinging-bat and in the path of movement of a ball projected from the'swinging-bat.

4. In a baseball game apparatus, the combina- 1 adapted to indicate bases and alsol lights intermediate the base-lights to indicate base-runners, of a pitching device, a receiving and returning device, power operated mechanism for ejecting a ball from said devices and control means -for said power operated mechanism, a manually operated swinging-bat, and means co-acting `with said l f power operated means for controlling said lights to indicate plays and theprogress of thegame.

5. In a baseball game apparatus,the combination with 'a deck having a series of lights indicatingbases and other lights indicating baserunners, of means for controlling said lights to in-dicate plays and the advancement of runners,

n a swinging-bat, and a manually controlled lever for swinging the bat, and operative connections between the lever and said control means whereby the light control means will operate continuously as long as said lever is properly manipulated.- 6.` In a baseball .game apparatus, the combination with a deck having a series of lbase lights and a plurality of base-runner lights, a yswingingbat, a kmanually controlled lever for swinging the bat, and operativeconnections between said lever and the lights for illuminating the latter, of a home-run device located on the outfield of the deck and provided with `an opening to receive a ball, means for normally closing said opening, and means adapted to be actuated-by the swinging-bat-lever for opening said device.

7. In a baseball game apparatus, the combinan tion of an inclined playing deck, a pitching deby said lever for opening said device.,

8. In a baseball game apparatus, the combination of a playing'deck having a series of electric lights to indicate base-runners,a swingingbat and manually operating means therefor, a selecting and controlling unit for said lights and operative connections between s aid loperating means and unit, said unit including a xedcommutator plate, a revolvable cam plate having a plurality of cams thereon, a selector plate anda revolvable release cam-unit, and a plurality of brushes adapted to engage said commutator plate and to be disengaged from said plate by said release unit.

9. In a baseball game apparatus, the combination of an inclined playing deck, a pitching device, a catching and returning device, power operated means for ejecting aball from each of said devices, and means for actuating said power operated means, a swingable bat located above the deck, operating mechanism belowthe deck for said bat comprising a supporting crank, a

looped-lever-arm adapted to engage and partially turn said crank, spring actuated means acting on the lever arm to completev the initial throw of the arm, and a manually controlled lever for operating the lever arm and spring actuated means.

y l l FRANK R. CHESTER. 

